U.S. patent application number 12/302822 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-13 for circuit breaker.
This patent application is currently assigned to JAPAN AE POWER SYSTEMS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Hiroaki Hashimoto, Hideo Kawamoto, Kenichi Okubo.
Application Number | 20090201109 12/302822 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38778419 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090201109 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hashimoto; Hiroaki ; et
al. |
August 13, 2009 |
CIRCUIT BREAKER
Abstract
A circuit breaker of different interruption speeds, and a spring
operation mechanism is standardized for designing and manufacturing
the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a power transmission
mechanism for driving a movable contact 63 and a fixed contact 64
and an interruption spring 26 that imparts a driving force to
separate the contacts through the power transmission mechanism. A
latch mechanism restricts movement of the power transmission
mechanism, and a pull-out operation section releases the
restriction of the power transmission mechanism by the latch
mechanism. The pull-out operation section is arranged to oppose a
first arm of a lever to rotate the first arm. The lever is arranged
so that a tip of a second arm is able to engage with and rest on
the latch mechanism, and release the restriction of the power
transmission mechanism by the latch mechanism.
Inventors: |
Hashimoto; Hiroaki;
(Hitachinaka, JP) ; Kawamoto; Hideo; (Toyokawa,
JP) ; Okubo; Kenichi; (Hitachi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MATTINGLY & MALUR, P.C.
1800 DIAGONAL ROAD, SUITE 370
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
JAPAN AE POWER SYSTEMS
CORPORATION
Minato-ku, Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
38778419 |
Appl. No.: |
12/302822 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
May 15, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2007/060317 |
371 Date: |
November 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
335/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 3/3031 20130101;
H01H 3/3005 20130101; H01H 3/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
335/6 |
International
Class: |
H01H 77/00 20060101
H01H077/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 1, 2006 |
JP |
2006-153597 |
Claims
1. A circuit breaker comprising: a power transmission mechanism for
driving a movable contact and a fixed contact constructing a make
and break contact in a direction that said contacts separate from
each other and contact thereon, an interruption spring imparting
driving force in a direction that the driving force separates said
movable contact from said fixed contact through said power
transmission mechanism, a case incorporated with a latch mechanism
for restricting movement of said power transmission mechanism at a
place that an energized condition of said interruption spring is
held, and a small case incorporated with a pull-out operation
section for releasing the restriction of said power transmission
mechanism by said latch mechanism and detachably fixed to said
case, characterized in that said pull-out operation section
incorporated in said small case is provided with a lever having
first and second arms and rotatably supported on a shaft, and
operation means for rotating said first arm, said operation means
being arranged so as to oppose to said first arm of said lever,
said lever is arranged so that a tip of said second arm is able to
engage with and rest on said latch mechanism, and made so that the
restriction of said power transmission mechanism by said latch
mechanism is released by rotation of said lever, said small case is
provided with at least for high speed interruption and for low
speed interruption, and one of them combined with said case
according to the duty, a gap between said first arm and said
operation means is set smaller for low speed interruption than for
high speed interruption, and a ratio b1/a1 of a length between said
first arm and said second arm of said lever is set smaller for high
speed interruption than for low speed interruption.
2. (canceled)
3. A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein said length
ratio b1/a1 between said first arm and second arm for high speed
interruption is set 1.5 times or more of that for low speed
interruption.
4. A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein said operation
means comprises a solenoid driving a plunder to go forward and
backward, and the number of winding of a coil of said solenoid is
less for high speed interruption than for sow speed
interruption.
5. A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein said operation
means comprises a solenoid driving a plunger to go forward and
backward, said solenoid having an iron core made of material
different in magnetic property and specific resistance each
different between for high speed interruption and for low speed
interruption.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit breaker employing
a spring operation apparatus, and to a circuit breaker suitable as
a power gas circuit breaker of high voltage specification for a
transformer station, a switching station, etc.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
[0002] A power gas circuit breaker provided in a transformer
station or a switching station employs a spring operation apparatus
employing a spring as driving force for interrupting or closing. A
circuit breaker employing this kind of spring operation apparatus
is disclosed in JP 2001-283691 A (document 1), for instance. This
publication discloses closing of a make and break contact which is
an interruption part by releasing an energized state on the base of
a cam mounted on a rotation shaft, a lever and an operation
command, and an operation apparatus of spring operation type using
an interruption spring, etc. This spring operation apparatus does
an interruption operation by holding a driving force of the
interruption spring by engagement of a plurality of parts
constructing a pull-out mechanism, and by releasing the engagement
of the plurality of parts by driving a solenoid according to an
interruption command.
[0003] Further, a spring operation apparatus for opening and
closing a contact portion of a power circuit breaker is also
disclosed in JP 2005-209554 A (document 2). This spring operation
apparatus is made so as to add a case containing a pull-out
mechanism or a closing mechanism to a case of a body of the
operation apparatus.
[0004] Further, a spring operation apparatus by a torsion bar is
disclosed in Japanese patent publication No. 2529264 (document 3).
This spring operation apparatus uses the torsion bar for driving
force of interruption and closing, and it is made compact and its
high speed operation is made possible, by using the bar in a state
that 2 torsion bars are folded.
[0005] Further, Japanese Heisei 9 year (1997) Electro-technical
Committees Energy Branch Meeting Lecture Papers "Development of 362
kV 50 kA spring operation gas circuit breaker" by Haruhiko Kayama
and others (document 4) also discloses an example of a torsion-bar
type spring operation gas circuit breaker. The spring operation
apparatus employed therein uses a torsion bar as a driving spring,
whereby less energy is needed for driving the spring itself, the
efficiency is good, it is possible to it large in output, and the
make and break contact which is an interruption portion can be
interrupted in an interruption time of 2 cycles.
[0006] Incidentally, the spring operation apparatus for circuit
breaker as mentioned in the document 1 is for 3-cycle interruption,
the document 1 does not take into consideration about designing and
manufacturing circuit breakers satisfying a plurality of different
interruption speeds such as high speed interruption, for example,
interrupting the make and break contact of an interruption portion
in 2 cycle, and low speed interruption, for example, interrupting
in 5 cycles. The spring operation apparatus for circuit breaker
disclosed in above-mentioned document 2 has a problem that it is
difficult to meet the requirement of making the circuit breaker
high in interruption speed.
[0007] Similarly, the torsion-bar type spring operation apparatus
disclosed in the document 3 can interrupt a make and break contact
which is an interruption portion in 2 cycles, however, it is not
taken into consideration about using the spring operation apparatus
for low speed interruption such as 3 cycles, so that it has a
problem that it can not be used for low speed interruption.
[0008] In the other words, the conventional techniques of spring
operation apparatuses used for circuit breakers never take into
consideration about making parts of the spring operation apparatus
common or standardize so as to able to make a make and break
contact which is a interruption portion interrupt in different
interruption cycles, so that there remains a problem that designing
and manufacturing of the circuit breakers becomes complicated.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to reduce working time
of designing and manufacturing circuit breakers of different
interruption speeds, by making it possible to satisfy, even if
different interruption speeds are required for circuit breakers of
the same construction, the requirement, and by making parts of the
spring operation apparatuses common or standardize.
DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0010] In order to attain the above-mentioned object of the present
invention, the present invention provide a circuit breaker which
comprises a power transmission mechanism for driving a movable
contact and a fixed contact constructing a make and break contact
in a direction that the contacts separate from each other and
contact thereon, an interruption spring imparting driving force in
a direction that the driving force separates the movable contact
from the fixed contact through the power transmission mechanism, a
latch mechanism for restricting movement of the power transmission
mechanism at a place that an energized condition of the
interruption spring is held, and a pull-out operation section for
releasing the restriction of the power transmission mechanism by
the latch mechanism, and the circuit breaker is characterized in
that the pull-out operation section is provided with a lever having
first and second arms and rotatably supported on a shaft, and
operation means for rotating the first arm, the operation means
being arranged so as to oppose to the first arm of the lever, the
lever is arranged so that a tip of the second arm is able to engage
with and rest on the latch mechanism, and made so that the
restriction of the power transmission mechanism by the latch
mechanism is released by rotation of the lever, a gap between the
first arm and the operation means is set smaller for low speed
interruption than for high speed interruption, and a dimension of
length from a center of rotation of the first arm to a
perpendicular line that an operation axis of the operation means is
extended is set smaller for high speed interruption than for low
speed interruption.
[0011] The number of interruption cycles (interruption speed) of
the circuit breaker depends mainly on movement speed of the
pull-out operation section keeping the energized condition of the
interruption spring and releasing the latch mechanism which
restricts the closing state. Here, in the present invention, only a
portion of the pull-out operation section is designed and
manufactured as separate part or parts for each required
interruption speed specification, whereby different interruption
speeds are satisfied by the circuit breakers of the same
construction. Thereby, it is possible to make the spring operation
apparatuses and other construction parts constructing the circuit
breakers common and standardize, and it is possible to reduce the
working time of designing and manufacturing the circuit
breakers.
[0012] Further, it is characterized that a lever ratio of the
dimension of length from the center of rotation of the first arm to
the perpendicular line that the operation axis of the actuator is
extended to a dimension of length from the center of rotation of
the lever to a tip end of the second arm is set larger for high
speed interruption than for low speed interruption, preferably,
that the lever ratio for high speed interruption is set 1.5 times
or more of that for low speed interruption. Thereby, it is possible
to make a construction satisfying the interruption speed
specification without making the construction of the Pull-out
operation section greatly different.
[0013] The operation means comprises a solenoid driving a plunger
to go forward and backward, and the number of windings of a coil of
the solenoid is less for high speed interruption than for slow
speed interruption, or the solenoid is constructed of an iron core
made of material different in both magnetic property and specific
resistance between for high speed interruption and for low speed
interruption, whereby different interruption speed specifications
of the make and break contacts are satisfied by the circuit
breakers of the same construction.
[0014] According to the present invention, even by the circuit
breakers of the same construction, it is possible to easily provide
the circuit breakers having different interruption performances
such as 2 cycle interruption, 3 cycle interruption or 5 cycle
interruption, only by exchanging the pull-out operation sections.
Further, by exchanging the pull-out operation mechanism, it is
possible to construct one circuit breaker for 2 cycle interruption,
3 cycle interruption, etc. of interruption time of the circuit
breaker by exchanging the interruption time.
AN EFFECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0015] According to the present invention, even if circuit breakers
of different interruption speeds are required, the requirement is
satisfied by the circuit breaker of the same construction, and it
is possible to make the spring operation mechanisms common or
standardize, so that it is possible to reduce working time for
designing and manufacturing the circuit breakers of different
interruption speed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a power gas
circuit breaker that the present invention is applied;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing an embodiment
of an operation apparatus of the power gas circuit breaker that the
present invention is applied;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration for explaining a
closing state of a make and break contact at the operation
apparatus of the power gas circuit breaker shown in FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration for explaining a
termination state of interruption operation of the make and break
contact at the operation apparatus of the power gas circuit breaker
shown in FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration for explaining a
termination state of interruption operation of the make and break
contact at the operation apparatus of the power gas circuit breaker
shown in FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a front view showing an example of a pulled-out
operation apparatus for low speed interruption;
[0022] FIG. 7 is arrangement view, viewed from an under side, of
the pulled-out operation apparatus for low speed interruption in
FIG. 6;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a front view showing an example of a pulled-out
operation apparatus for high speed interruption;
[0024] FIG. 9 is arrangement view, viewed from an under side, of
the pulled-out operation apparatus for high speed interruption in
FIG. 8;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a solenoid before and after
operation;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a characteristic diagram;
[0027] FIG. 12 is an explanation diagram showing time change of
current flowing in a solenoid coil; and
[0028] FIG. 13 is an explanation diagram showing time change of
stroke of a movable contact.
BEST MODE FOR PRACTICE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0029] An embodiment of the power gas circuit breaker that the
present invention is applied is explained hereunder, referring to
FIGS. 1 to 13, with the same symbols being given to the same
function parts.
[0030] A gas circuit breaker 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a cylindrical
grounded container 103 set on a frame 105, and an insulating gas
such as SF.sub.6 (sulfur hexafluoride gas) is enclosed in the
cylindrical grounded container 103 at a normal pressure. Further,
bushings 101, 102 are provided on the grounded container so as to
project obliquely upward. Within the bushings 101, 102, conductors
constructing electric paths by connecting electric wires inside a
transformer station or switching station are contained. An
operation box 104 containing a spring operation mechanism of the
gas circuit breaker 100 is mounted on the side of the frame
105.
[0031] This FIG. 1 shows a state that a make and break contact
which is an interruption portion is closed, a movable contact 63
constructing the make and break contact is contacted with a fixed
contact 62. During interruption operation, the movable contact 63
removes from the fixed contact 62. An end portion of the movable
contact 63 opposite to a contact portion with the fixed contact 62
is connected to an insulating member 64. Further, a rotating shaft
66 is supported rotatably on the grounded container 103, and ends
of a link 65 and a link 67 are fixed to the rotating shaft 66. The
other end of the link 65 is connected to one end of the insulating
member 64. Similarly, the other end of the link 67 is connected to
a link 68.
[0032] A main shaft 4 of the spring operation mechanism is provided
inside the operation box 104. In an example shown in FIG. 1, an end
of the link 69 is connected to the main shaft 4, and the other end
of the link 69 is connected to the link 68. The main shaft 4, the
links 69, 68, 67 and the rotating shaft 66 forms a quatre link
mechanism. The spring operation mechanism is connected to the make
and break contact which is the interruption portion in the grounded
container 103 by the quadric link mechanism.
[0033] An operation of the gas circuit breaker 100 constructed in
this manner will be explained hereunder. Power during passage of
current is supplied to the upstream side bushing 102 from a system
(not shown). The power is led to the make and break contact which
is the interruption portion in the grounded container 103 from the
bushing 102, and is supplied again to the system through the
downstream side bushing 101.
[0034] When some accident occurs in the system by thunderbolt or
the like, the spring operation mechanism in the operation box 104
is driven, whereby the main shaft 4 and the link 69 are rotated
counterclockwise and the link 68 is moved downward. As the link 68
moves, the link 67, the rotating shaft 66 and the link 65 rotate
counterclockwise, whereby the insulating member 64 is moved
leftward. Thereby, since the movable contact 63 is separated from
the fixed contact 62 and opened, the power supply to a downstream
side is interrupted.
[0035] Further, in the present embodiment, the grounded container
103 is placed to extend horizontally, however, it is also possible
to place the grounded container 103 so as to extend
perpendicularly. Still further, the explanation is made by using a
single gas circuit breaker having the bushings 101, 102 directly
mounted on the grounded container 103, however, such a construction
that the bushings 101, 102 are assembled into the grounded
container 103 having the make and break contact is also sufficient.
Still further, the explanation is made taking the gas circuit
breaker using SF.sub.6 gas as an example, however, other kinds of
switching apparatus such as a vacuum circuit breaker are also
sufficient.
[0036] Next, the spring operation mechanism 400 contained in the
operation box 104 will be explained, referring to FIGS. 2 to 5.
[0037] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a closing state of the make and break
contact that both of a closing spring 28 and an interruption spring
26 of the spring operation mechanism 400 are compressed., and as it
changes from FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the opening and closing operation of
the make and break contact progress in turn. As shown in FIG. 2,
the spring operation mechanism 400 is constructed by a case 1 and
small case 61, and the small case 61 is fastened to the case 1 by
bolt or the like so as to be added to the case 1.
[0038] The spring operation mechanism 400, as shown by enclosing
with a one-dotted line in FIG. 3, is composed of an interruption
operation section 403 having the main shaft 4 and an interruption
spring 26, etc, a closing operation section 404 having a cam shaft
2 an a closing spring 28, etc, a closing control mechanism 402
keeping or releasing a driving force of the closing spring 28, a
pull-out mechanism 401 keeping and releasing a driving force of the
interruption spring 26, and a closing spring energizing apparatus
405 shown in FIG. 5 and including a part of the closing operation
section 404.
[0039] The state that an interruption operation of the make and
break contact is finished is shown in FIG. 4, and the state that a
closing operation of the make and break contact is finished is
shown in FIG. 5. In the state of FIG. 5, the closing spring 28 is
in an opening state, after that, the closing spring 28 is
compressed and an operation to return it into a condition shown in
FIG. 2 is done. the above operation will be explained later in
detail.
[0040] A construction of the interruption operation section 403 is
explained, referring to FIG. 3.
[0041] An intermediate portion of a main lever 5 which is
approximately Y-letter shaped is mounted on the main shaft 4, and
rollers 6, 7 are mounted on two end portions of the main lever 5.
Further, on the remaining end of the main lever 5, an end of an
interruption spring link 25 is mounted rotatably through a pin 25a.
On the other end of the interruption spring link 25, a spring
bearing 34 is mounted, and holds an interruption spring arranged
around the outer periphery of the interruption spring link 25. The
interruption spring 26 is held by the case 1 at an opposite side of
the end supported by the spring bearing 34.
[0042] By the insulating member 64, link 65 and quatre link
mechanism, shown in FIG. 1 as mentioned above, the main lever, the
interruption spring link 25 and the spring bearing 34, a power
transmission mechanism driving the movable contact 63 and the fixed
contact 62 constructing the make and break contact in a contact and
separate direction is constructed. Further, the interruption spring
26 is constructed so as to impart driving force in a direction to
separate the movable contact 63 from the fixed contact 62 through
the power transmission mechanism.
[0043] Next, a construction of the closing operation section 404
and the closing spring energizing apparatus 405 is explained,
referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5.
[0044] A cam 3 is mounted on one end of the rotating shaft 2
rotatably supported inside the case 1, and a large gear wheel 52 is
mounted on the other end of the rotating shaft 2. An end of a
closing spring link 27 is rotatably mounted on intermediate portion
of the large gear wheel 52. A spring seat 35 is mounted on the
other end portion of the closing spring link 27, and holds one end
side of the closing spring 28. The closing spring 28 is arranged on
the outer peripheral side of the closing spring link 27, and the
opposite side of the spring seat 35 is held by the case 1. A
driving force is transmitted to a small gear wheel 51 from an
electric motor (not shown), and when the closing spring 28 is
energized, the small gear wheel 51 becomes a driving side and the
large gear wheel 52 becomes a follower side. On the contrary, in a
closing operation, the large gear wheel 52 becomes a driving side
and the small gear wheel becomes a follower side.
[0045] A construction of the closing control mechanism 402 is
explained, referring to FIG. 3. A closing latch 19 is mounted on a
roller 18 mounted on the cam 3 so as to be able to engage with the
roller 18. The closing latch 19 is formed in an approximate
V-letter shape, the curved portion thereof is mounted rotatably on
a shaft 19a. An engaging portion 19b is formed at one end of the
closing latch 19 of the approximate V-letter shape, and the
engaging portion 19b engages with a roller 18 provided on the cam 3
of the closing operation section 404. A roller 21 is mounted on the
other end of the closing latch 19 of the approximate V-letter
shape. A return spring 20 of which one end is fixed to the case 1
is mounted on an intermediate portion between the other end of the
closing latch 19 and the shaft 19a.
[0046] A closing trigger 22 is arranged so that one end of the
trigger is able to abut the roller 21. The closing trigger 22 is
formed in a bent shape, and the bent portion thereof is mounted
rotatably on a rotating shaft 22a. The rotating shaft 22a is
rotatably supported on the case 1. A closing trigger 22b is formed
on an opposite end to the side that the closing trigger 22 abuts
the roller 21, and a plunger 311 of a closing solenoid 301 which
becomes an operation means is arranged so as to bale to abut this
closing trigger 22b.
[0047] Adjacently to the above-described interruption operation
section 403, the pull-out mechanism 401 is arranged inside a small
case 61. A structure of the pull-out mechanism 401 is explained,
referring to FIG. 3. An interruption latch 8 is rotatably mounted
on the shaft 8a fixed to the case 1 at a middle portion of the
latch and has a shape bent at the shaft 8a. An engaging portion 8b
formed at one end of the interruption latch 8 is engaged with a
roller 7 provided on one end of the a main lever 5, and a roller 10
is attached to the other end of the interruption latch 8. Further,
one end of a return spring 9 for restoring the interruption latch 8
to the original position is mounted on an intermediate portion
between the shaft 8a and the engaging portion of the interruption
latch 8. The other end of the return spring 9 is fixed to the case
1.
[0048] A second trigger lever 11 is arranged so as to be able to
engage with the roller 10 provided at one end of the interruption
latch 8. An intermediate portion of the second trigger lever 11 is
rotatably mounted on a shaft 11a supported by the small case 61.
Further, the second trigger lever 11 is formed in a shape bent at a
portion of the shaft 11a, and the second trigger lever 11 has one
end of a return spring 12 mounted on an intermediate portion
thereof between the shaft 11a and a roller 13. The other end of the
return spring 12 is fixed to the small case 61, and the return
spring 12 restores the second trigger lever 11 to an original place
by spring force. The second trigger lever 11 has a roller 13
mounted on an end portion thereof on the opposite side to an engage
portion engaging with the roller 10. An interruption trigger 14a
which is shaped in approximate L-letter is arranged so as to be
able to engage with the roller 13, and formed so that a tip portion
of the interruption trigger 14a abuts the roller 13. The tip
portion of the interruption trigger 14a is formed in curved face,
taking its contact with the roller 13 into consideration.
[0049] An angled portion of the approximate L-letter shape of the
interruption trigger 14a is fixed to a shaft 14c. The shaft 14c is
supported rotatably by the small case 61, and provided with a first
trigger lever 14b attached thereto. A plunger 211 of a pull-out
solenoid 201 which is an operating means is arranged for the first
trigger lever 14b so as to be able to abut. A return spring 15, one
end of which is fixed to the small case 61, is provided at an
intermediate portion of the interruption trigger 14a. The
interruption trigger 14 is restored to an original place by the
return spring 15. The above-mentioned return springs 9, 12 and 15
each are in compressed condition under the closing hold condition
holding a closing state as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the
return springs 9, 12 and 15 each are a coil spring, however, such
springs as twisted springs, dish springs, etc. can be used for the
return springs.
[0050] In this manner, the latch mechanism restricting, by the
interruption latch 8, movement of the power transmission mechanism
at a position that an energizing condition of the interruption
spring 26 is held is constructed. The pull-out operation section
releasing, by the second trigger lever 11, the interruption trigger
14a, the first trigger lever 14b, the pull-out solenoid 201, etc.,
the restriction of the power transmission mechanism by the latch
mechanism is constructed.
[0051] Next, the pull-out operation section applying the present
invention is explained in detail, referring to FIGS. 6-9. A
construction of the pull-out operation section for high speed
interruption such as 2 cycle interruption is different from one for
low speed interruption such as 3 cycle or 5 cycle interruption.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a construction of the pull-out operation section
for low speed interruption, and FIGS. 8 and 9 show a construction
of the pull-out operation section for high speed interruption.
[0052] In the pull-out operation section for low speed interruption
in FIGS. 6 and 7, suffix 1 is added to each of English letters, and
suffix 2 is added to each of English letters in the pull-out
operation section for high speed interruption in FIGS. 8 and 9.
Gaps g1 and g2 each are a dimension between the solenoid plunger
211 and the first trigger lever 14b which is a first arm, they are
set g1>g2, that is, the dimension of the pull-out operation
section for low speed interruption is set a larger dimension than
that of the pull-out operation section for high speed interruption,
whereby a construction suitable for high speed interruption is
made. Further, engage lengths k1, k2 each are a dimension that the
roller 13 provided on the second trigger lever 11 and the
interruption trigger 14a are engaged with each other, and they are
set k1=k2. Namely, the engage lengths k1, k2 are made constant
irrespective of interruption speed.
[0053] Each of a1 and a2 is a dimension from a central axis of the
shaft 14c rotatably supporting the interruption trigger 14a to a
perpendicular line of extension of an operation axis line of the
solenoid plunger 21 extended to the first trigger 14b which is one
arm, and they are set a1>a2. Each of b1 and b2 is a dimension
from a central axis of the shaft 14c of the interruption trigger
14a which is a second arm to the tip contact portion of the
interruption trigger 14a contacting with the roller 13 as mentioned
above, that is, to the outer peripheral surface of the roller 13 of
the second trigger lever 11, and they are set b1<b2. Defining a
low speed interruption lever ratio r1 as r1=b1/a1, and a high speed
interruption lever ration r2 as r2=b2/a2, a relation between the
low speed interruption lever ratio r1 and the high speed
interruption lever ratio r2 is set to be r1<r2. It is possible
to rapidly release the engagement of the interruption trigger 14a
and the roller 13 by making the ratio (r2/r1) of both levers 1.5 or
more, and it becomes suitable as the pull-out operation section for
high speed interruption.
[0054] Each of the pull-out operation section for low speed
interruption and the pull-out operation section for high speed
interruption are explained, referring to arrangement drawings
viewed from the underside, shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. As shown in
those FIGS. 7 and 9, two of the solenoids 201 for pulling out that
are operation means are arranged in parallel with each other along
the shaft 14c. This is because in a gas circuit breaker that a
rated voltage is extra high voltage class of 200 kV or more, the
pull-out control system is made in dual system in general, so that
even if one of them falls in out of order, the other does surely an
interruption operation.
[0055] In the pull-out operation section for low speed interruption
in FIG. 7, one of the solenoids 201 for pulling out on the side of
the small case 61 is formed so as to press the first trigger 14b,
and the other solenoid 201 is formed so as to press the first
trigger 14d arranged in parallel and outside of the first trigger
14b. Since two of the solenoids 201 for pulling out and the first
triggers 14b and 14d are arranged out of the small case 61, the
shaft 14c of the interruption trigger becomes long, therefore,
three bearings are provided at the small case portion 61 and
outside the small case portion as shown by 62a, 62b and 62c.
[0056] On the contrary, in the pull-out operation section for high
speed interruption in FIG. 9, one of the pull out solenoids 201 is
formed so as to directly press an interruption trigger 14d
positioned inside the small case 61. Further, the other of the pull
out solenoids 201 outside the small case 61 is formed so as to
press the first trigger lever 14b. The first trigger lever 14b is
in parallel with the interruption trigger 14d, however, the first
trigger lever 14b is provided out of the small case 61. Therefore,
a shaft 14c of the interruption trigger for high speed interruption
becomes shorter than the shaft 14c of the interruption trigger for
low speed interruption, so that the shaft 14c is supported
rotatably by two bearings 62a and 62b provided on the small case
portion 61.
[0057] As mentioned above, since the pull-out operation section for
high speed interruption is constructed so that one of the pull-out
solenoid 201 directly presses the interruption trigger 14d, the
dimension of the shaft 14c of the interruption trigger 14 becomes
shorter than that for low speed interruption, and the number of the
bearings 62 supporting the interruption trigger shaft 14c can be
also reduced, therefore, inertial mass around the interruption
trigger 14 can be reduced more than that for low speed
interruption. As a result, the pull-out operation section for high
speed interruption makes its high speed operation possible, and it
is possible to make the constructional cost low.
[0058] Further, the pull-out operation section according to the
present invention is contained in the small case 61 as different
parts for each specification of different interruption speed, and
fixed detachably to the case 1 by common fixing means. Thereby, it
is possible to meet the requirement of different interruption
speeds with the same circuit breaker only by exchanging the small
case 61 containing the pull-out operation section. Further, since
it is possible to make various kinds of structural parts contained
in the case 1, various kinds of parts constructing the power
transmission mechanism, etc. common, it is possible to reduce the
working time for designing and manufacturing the circuit breaker.
Particularly, the pull-out operation section according to the
present invention can be detachably attached to the case inside the
operation box of the circuit breaker by common fastening means, as
shown FIG. 1, so that it is possible to make a structure of circuit
breaker portions other than the pull-out operation section common
irrespective of interruption speed specification and standardize
the circuit breaker.
[0059] States of the pull-out solenoid before and after
interruption operation are shown in FIG. 10. In this figure, its
left half shows a state before the interruption operation, and its
right half shows a state after the interruption operation. The
plunger 211 is made of non-magnetic material such as stainless
steel (SUS304). The plunger 211 has a movable core 202 of magnetic
material coaxially placed thereon and fixed thereto, and a fixed
core 203 is provided so as to oppose to the movable core 202. The
fixed core 203 has a coil 204 contained therein.
[0060] Before an interruption operation, there is a gap X1 of a
prescribed dimension between the movable core 202 and the fixed
core 203. When an interruption command is inputted from the control
means (not shown), the coil 204 is excited, the movable core 202 is
attracted to the fixed core 203 by the magnetic field generated in
the iron core, the gap X1 is gradually reduced, and finally the
movement of the movable core 202 stops substantially at the state
that the movable core 202 abuts the fixed core 203.
[0061] Attracting force of the solenoid under the state that steady
current is flowing in the coil is in inverse proportion to the gap
X1 between the movable core 202 and the fixed core. Namely, the
smaller the gap X1 is, the larger the attracting force of the
solenoid becomes. Therefore, in the pull-out operation section for
high speed interruption, as mentioned above a gap g2 between the
plunger 211 and the interruption trigger 14b is made smaller than a
gap g1 in the pull-out operation section for low speed
interruption, whereby a region A in which the gap X1 is small and
the attracting force of the solenoid is large, as shown in FIG. 11,
is used.
[0062] That is, as for the pull-out operation section for low speed
interruption and the pull-out operation section for high speed
interruption, it is possible to meet the requirement of different
interruption speeds with the same construction of the circuit
breaker by making a lever ratio or a gap between those pull-out
operation sections different from each other such as the lever
ration r1<r2 or the gap g1>g2.
[0063] Further, in the pull-out operation section for high speed
interruption and the pull-out operation section for low speed
interruption, the material of movable core 202 and the fixed core
203 can be changed to other materials. Namely, it is possible for
the pull-out operation section for high speed interruption, to
obtain much larger attracting force by increasing the magnetic flux
generated in the cores by making use of material excellent in
magnetic property, and it is possible to meet the requirements of
different interruption speeds with a circuit breaker of the same
construction.
[0064] Still further, between the pull-out operation section for
low speed interruption and the pull-out operation section for high
speed interruption, the numbers of windings of the solenoid coils
204 are different from each other, and the number of windings of
the coil 204 for high speed interruption is less than that of the
coil 204 for low speed interruption. FIG. 12 typically expresses
transient response characteristics of current flowing in solenoid
coils when the numbers of windings of the coils are different. When
an interruption command is inputted at time zero, current in the
coil does not immediately reach a steady current because of
inductance, a current increase stays once and a recess appears in
current wave as shown in FIG. 12, and then the current increases
again toward the steady current. A position that the recess appears
in current wave expresses a state that the solenoid plunger 211 is
in full stroke, that is, an instant that the gap X1 between the
movable core 202 and the fixed core 203 reaches approximately zero.
Defining time from the time zero to the time that a recess 1A, 1B
appears in the current wave as response time, the response time
becomes fast (short) because the coil for high speed interruption
is made less in number of windings than that the coil for low speed
interruption, and high speed interruption is possible.
[0065] As mentioned above, it is possible to provide a circuit
breaker different in interruption speed in requirement even by
making the number of windings different between the pull-out
operation section for low speed interruption and the pull-out
operation section for high speed interruption.
[0066] An operation of the gas circuit breaker 100 constructed as
above will be described hereunder. First, an operation shifting
from a closing state as shown FIG. 3 to an interruption state is
explained. Under the closing state, when an interruption command is
inputted, the gas circuit breaker 100 starts interruption
operation. The pull-out solenoid 201 of the pull-out operation
section is excited, the plunger 211 projects, and the plunger 211
presses the first trigger lever 14b. As a result, the engagement of
the interruption trigger 14a and the second trigger lever 11 is
disengaged.
[0067] The second trigger lever 11 is made freely rotatable, being
disengaged from the interruption trigger 14a, and the second
trigger lever 11 is pressed by the roller 10 of the interruption
latch 8, the second trigger lever 11 rotates about the shaft 11a
counterclockwise, that is, in an anticlockwise direction.
Consecutively, the interruption latch 8 restricted to rotate is
made freely rotatable, and the interruption latch 8 rotates
counterclockwise about the shaft 8a by a pressing force from the
roller 7 of the main lever 5. Therefore, the engagement of the
roller 7 of the main lever 5 and the interruption latch 8 is
disengaged, and rotation of the main lever 5 is made free. Thereby,
restriction of the interruption spring 26 under compression is
released, so that the interruption spring 26 is disenergized, and
the main lever 5 rotates counterclockwise. Thereby, the
interruption operation of the make and break contact which is the
interruption portion is done. When disenergization of the
interruption spring 26 is finished, the interruption operation is
finished. The roller 6 of the main lever 5 stops in a state that
the roller nearly abuts the outer peripheral surface of the cam 3
on the closing operation section side as shown in FIG. 4.
[0068] FIG. 13 shows a change in displacement of the movable
contact 63 according to time lapse, with the construction of the
circuit breaker shown in FIG. 1. An instant that an interruption
command is inputted is time zero. In the pull-out operation
section, the interruption spring 26 is not disenergized while the
engagement of respective levers is not disengaged, so that the
movable contact is in stationary state, and the stroke does not
change from the time zero as shown in FIG. 13. In the pull-out
operation section for high speed interruption, the response time of
the coil 204 of the solenoid is fast (short), and disengagement of
the interruption trigger 14a and the roller 11 of the second
trigger lever 11 is fast. Therefore, in the pull-out operation
section for high speed interruption, the contact parting time
(opening time) t1 until the stroke of the movable contact reaches
to a contact parting position is faster (shorter) than the contact
parting time t2 until that for low speed interruption reaches the
contact parting position. In this manner, by a change in
construction of a portion of the pull-out operation section, it is
possible to use a single gas circuit breaker of the same
construction both for high speed interruption and for low speed
interruption by exchanging the circuit breaker to one for high
speed interruption and one for low speed interruption.
[0069] An operation that the contact shifts from the interruption
state to the closing state shown in FIG. 5 is explained hereunder.
Under the interruption state shown in FIG. 4, when a closing
command is inputted to the gas circuit breaker 100, the solenoid
301 for closing is excited. The solenoid 301 for closing makes the
plunger 311 project downward and press the closing trigger 22.
Thereby, the closing trigger 22 rotates and moves counterclockwise,
and the engagement of the roller 21 of the closing latch 19 and the
closing trigger 22 is disengaged.
[0070] Thereby, rotation of the closing latch 19 restricted to
rotate becomes free, so that the closing latch 19 rotates and moves
counterclockwise by the pressing force from the roller 18 of the
cam 3. At this time, the engagement of the closing latch 19 and the
roller 18 of the cam 3 is disengaged. Since the cam 3 becomes free
from restriction to rotate, the spring force of the closing spring
28 is disenergized, the closing spring link 27 moves downward, and
the large gearwheel 52, the rotation shaft 2 and the cam 3 rotate
counterclockwise.
[0071] Being accompanied by the rotation of the cam 3, the outer
peripheral surface of the cam 3 abuts the roller 6 of the main
lever 5, and the main lever 5 rotates and moves clockwise. When the
cam 3 rotates approximately half rotation, the outer peripheral
surface abuts the roller 6 of the main lever 5 at a maximum
curvature radial portion of the cam 3. At this time, the
interruption spring link 25 connected to the main lever 5
compresses the interruption spring 26 to a nearly original
position.
[0072] When the closing spring 28 has been disenergized, the make
and break contact is closed. Further, when the closing operation is
finished, each lever 8, 11, 14 of the pull-out mechanism 401 is
restored to the original position by the force of the return spring
9, 12, 15. Thereby, the force of the interruption spring 26 is
held. The state that the closing operation is finished is as shown
in FIG. 5. Under this state, when an interruption command is
inputted, an interruption operation becomes instantly possible.
Namely, driving energy corresponding to twice of interruption
operation and once of closing operation is stored before the first
interruption operation, whereby operation duty of high speed
re-closed circuit defined by Japanese Electro-technical Committees
Electrical Standards Investigation Committees Standard
Specification (JEC-2300), O-0.35 sec-CO operation becomes possible.
Here, O means interruption operation and CO means that interruption
operation is done after the closing operation on.
[0073] An operation of energizing the closing spring after the
closing operation is finished is explained hereunder. In FIG. 5,
when an electric motor (not shown) rotates the small gearwheel 51
clockwise through gear trains (not shown), the large gearwheel 52
meshed with the small gearwheel 51 rotates counterclockwise. Based
on this operation, the closing spring link 27 moves downward while
moving counterclockwise, and the closing spring is compressed. When
the rotation of the large gearwheel 52 passes about half rotation,
the electric motor stops by a command of a limit switch (not
shown). By the driving force of the compressed closing spring 28,
the large gearwheel 52 is urged so as to further rotate
counterclockwise, however, the roller 18 of the cam 3 coaxial with
the large gearwheel 52, and the closing latch 19 become the states
that they are engaged with the closing latch 19 and the closing
trigger 22, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, rotations
of the cam 3 and the closing spring 28 are restricted, and the
spring force of the closing spring 28 is held. Thereby, they
becomes the state shown in FIG. 3 holding closing of the make and
break contact, and the interruption spring 26 and the closing
spring 28 each are restored to the original state that those spring
are compressed.
[0074] As mentioned above, according to the present invention, it
is possible to easily produce circuit breakers different in
interruption performance such as 2 cycle interruption, 3 cycle
interruption and 5 cycle interruption by only exchanging structural
parts of one portion of the pull-out operation section. Further, by
exchanging the pull-out operation section constructing the pull-out
mechanism, even with one gas circuit breaker of the same
construction, it is possible to use it changing interruption time
to 2 cycle and 3cycle.
[0075] Further, in this embodiment, the pull-out operation section
is constructed in 2 stage construction of the first trigger lever
14b and the second trigger lever 11, however, without being limited
by this as singularity of the first trigger lever 14b for instance,
it is sufficient to provide the first trigger lever 14b so that the
tip portion of the interruption trigger 14a abuts directly the
roller 10 of the interruption latch 8. Further, it is also possible
to construct it in 3 stages or more of the number of stages.
Possibility of Industrial Utilization
[0076] As mentioned above, in the circuit breakers according to the
present invention, even if main parts are made in the same
construction, it is possible to make one of them in a circuit
breaker for different interruption speed by exchanging a portion of
the pull-out mechanism, whereby it is suitable for designing and
manufacturing power circuit breakers.
* * * * *